National

Over-the-counter contraceptives, such as condoms, are now free to Washington State residents with health insurance. Following six years of Republican obstruction, the Reproductive Parity Act was finally passedlast year. Starting on 1 January 2019, Washingtonians with state-regulated health insurance (including Medicaid) can pick up over-the-counter contraceptives at their in-network pharmacies for no cost. According to(…)

The Colorado courthouse that hosted the US’ first ever same-sex wedding has been recognized for its role in LGBTI history. The federal government recognized the Colorado Boulder County Courthouse and added it to the National Register of Historic Places. The only other LGBTI venues included on the register include the Stonewall Inn in New York and(…)

Newly sworn-in after his victory over Andrew Gillum in the Florida gubernatorial race, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed on Wednesday an executive order ensuring non-discrimination in state employment and state contracting — but the directive notably excludes LGBT people. The order DeSantis signed, Executive Order No. 19-10, is titled “Reaffirming Commitment to Diversity in Government.” Although(…)

On Tuesday (8 January), a federal grand jury in Texas returned an indictment against two men accused of using Grindr to assault and rob gay male victims. They charged the men with conspiracy to commit hate crimes. The jury delivered a 15-count indictment against Daniel Jenkins, 19, and Michael Atkinson, 24. According to the Texas state(…)

Jared Polis on Tuesday (8 January) was sworn in as governor of Colorado. With his inauguration, he became the state’s first Jewish governor and the country’s first openly gay governor. Polis made history on 7 November when he won his race in the midterm elections. He ran opposing Republican candidate Walker Stapleton, who took 44.9%(…)

Weeks after Chad Griffin announced he will step down as president of the Human Rights Campaign, names are circulating in LGBTQ circles as possible replacements, including women and people of color, as the search for the next person to lead the nation’s largest LGBTQ group continues. The Human Rights Campaign — which has annual revenue(…)

Raleigh’s NBC affiliate reports: Two women have been charged with assaulting a 29-year-old transgender person in a bathroom at a popular Glenwood South bar last month. According to investigators, the victim was inside the women’s bathroom at Milk Bar on Dec. 9 when she was sexually assaulted by two other women. Amber Harrell, 38, and(…)

From left, Minnesota Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers have signed executive orders against anti-LGBT discrimination. (Photo of Whitmer by Cjh1452000 via Wikimedia Commons; photo of Evers by Tony Evers Flickr) Newly seated governors in Michigan and Wisconsin signed on Monday executive orders against anti-LGBT discrimination as among the first acts in their(…)

The Denver Post reports: The Denver City Council voted unanimously to ban gay conversion therapy for minors in the city on Monday night. Denver is the first jurisdiction in Colorado to pass such a prohibition, according to a news release from the office of Mayor Michael Hancock. Hancock’s office proposed the prohibition. “This is a(…)

Nancy Pelosi has vowed to pass the Equality Act law, banning anti-LGBT discrimination across the US, in her first speech after being elected as speaker of the House of Representatives. As a record number of openly lesbian, gay and bisexual lawmakers were sworn in on Thursday (January 3), the Democratic leader told Congress, “We will(…)